The 1,800-square-foot boutique, located in the former J. Russell Marketing offices near Encouraging Words bookstore, opened Aug. 20 and has been hopping ever since, said Ellard. Popular items include Z Supply’s back-to-school tees and hoodies, high-style dresses for autumn, Big Buddha handbags jewelry and other accessories. A line of shoes is expected in the spring.

Prices hover around $60 to $80 for basic tops and pants. High-end jeans can run $200 a pair.

Ellard, 38, studied fashion, interior design and business before devoting herself to being a stay-at-home mom and raising two kids. “Now that they’re in their teens,” she said, “I’ve got the time to concentrate on some of the things I love — such as SaVi.”

Marshalls marshals its workforce for Oct. 2 grand opening

You diehard Marshalls fans can stop holding your breath. The trendy discounter has begun hiring staff for its new East Wenatchee store and has set its grand opening for Oct. 2.

A swing by the department chain’s new 23,400-square-foot space at Wenatchee Valley Mall reveals work crews hammering to finish interior work designed by the store’s parent, Massachusetts-based TJX Companies (Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and four smaller chains).

A spokesman at Wenatchee WorkSource reported that Marshalls hiring event on Monday and Tuesday drew lots of applicants.

At the end of 2013, Marshalls had 942 stores in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Its sister company, T.J. Maxx, had 1,079 stores spread over 49 states. TJX estimates long-term growth of 3,000 stores combined for the two companies.

Pink Lady tallies another record crop

Wave bye-bye, apple lovers. The last Pink Lady apple from the 2013 season rode off into the sunset earlier this month as growers noted a record crop of the delectable fruit for the second year in a row.

“This apple’s on a roll,” said John Reeves, general manager of Pink Lady America in Yakima. “We’ve had marketing success through a string of seasons and are now showing an upward trend in production.”

The latest tally of Cripps Pink apples, many branded as Pink Lady, showed 3.89 million boxes had been shipped. That’s a big jump over last year’s record crop of 3.4 million.

One reason for the crop increase, said Reeves, was the introduction of the Maslin variety, an early kind of Pink Lady, that allowed shipments to begin in early October rather than later in the month.

“This early apple is adding a new dynamic to the market,” said Reeves. “Having a variety ready to eat right off the tree around three weeks early brings new energy to the marketplace.”

Subsequent weekly shipments of all Pink Lady varieties also exceeded expectations through the season, he said.

This weekly column is compiled from “Everyday Business,” a blog by World reporter Mike Irwin. You can reach him at 665-1179 or irwin@wenatcheeworld.com.

Reach Mike Irwin at 509-665-1179 or (javascript required to see email). Read his blog Everyday Business or follow him on Twitter at @MikeIrwinWW.